today i'm singing at a funeral for a woman i met one time. she was lovely and thoughtful and gentle. her husband sat by her bedside quietly during our entire visit. as i began to sing soft hymns to the woman, her husband shuffled over to an old suitcase worn by time and memories. he pulled out a piece of yellow paper and i noticed tears dripping off of his face onto the page.
as i finished singing, i asked him if he wanted to show me the paper. he nodded, unable to speak. on it was his wife's scrolling penmanship. she had written the words of several of her favorite songs. i was not familiar with any of them, so i promised to look up the songs and return later that week to share them.
i never got to share the songs with her, because she passed away this weekend. but, her family asked me to share the music at her funeral. i was so touched and honored by that. the music she loved has been comforting and stirring for me this week. the words make me think of her life and the small bits of wisdom i learned about her well-lived life. the truth in the songs make me long for acceptance and love from those witholding it from me. the melodies bring me back to a time when my family made happy memories. the words speak what is on my heart-i am longing for someone to be my 'bridge over troubled water', someone to ease my mind.
i have so many of those people in my life-my husband, several of my close friends, some of my family members. i am thankful for those people who help me to believe and have hope that things will get better.
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